The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1887-04-06

I
letter, asking my yiews on what is
called the Senatorial Contest" in
West Virginia. L ask the courtesy
of a brief space in your paper.
1 believe that, in the considera-
ton of all questions, the welfare of
the people of the State, which in
cludes the development of its great
resources. should be given the pref
erence over and above advantage
or disadvantage that might accrue
to individuals or parties. The
greatest resources of wealth in
West Virginia are her large and
valuable deposits of coal, iron ore
and her timber. Unless these ar
ticles and her manufactures are
protected. by proper and reason
able tariff, and are given an outlet
to the worlds markets, by railroads,
they are practically valueless. It
is admitted by great majority of
the people, of all parties, that Mr..
Camden's views, acts and votes, ON
the questions of the tariff, finance,
and the development of the State
by railroads, have been in the di.
rection of the best interests of the
people and State. The country,
and especially West Virginia, owes
Camden a debt for what is known
as his Long and Short Haul
Amendment" to the "Inter State
Commerce Act" West Virginia
has less railroads and more mineral
resources than States that surround
US. Capital is tirnid and cautious
and will not go where legislation
aud people are unfriendly. Cam
den has brought two or three mil,
lions of dollars into the State,
which have been invested in rail
roads. and scattered among the
people, not only developing the
State and its resource, but helping
20 pay the taxes. On the other
hand it is generally believed and
admitted that the Democrats who
are opposing Camden sympathize
with, some OF them act with those
who advocate what is known as
Stree trade" and do nothing to aid
railroad and other improvements
Thus a square issue is made be-
tween the moderate tariff men, in
! favor of improvements, aud the
free traders" and anti improve
ment men. As to which side rep
resents the best and truest interests
of the State, there ought to be no
question. 1 believe the State
should be represented in the Uni
ted States Senate by liberal, pro-
gressive Democrat. No free gov
eminent nor successful party or
ganization can last long except it
be based upon the principle that
the majority must rule. The Dem
ocrats have a majority of the Leg
islature and they have a right to
name the man they want for Sena-
tor or for any Office in their power
to fill, and having named him, he
is entitled to the party's support.
One of the questions at issue is:
shall three-fourths of the Democrat
ic members of the Legislaturehave
their choice of Senator, or shall
one fourth Select the man? 1 be
lieve in properly protecting the
minority, but in all things that
constitute body. polite or corpor-
ate whether In business, politics,
Church or State, it is and should
be the universal law or custom
that the majority must rule
What would have been said by the
opponents of Senator Camden ifthe
situation had been reversed and
those now in the minority had con-
stituted a majority. John Ran
dolph and Henry Clay where Bit
ter personal enemies. Clay was a
candidate for Speaker, and though
strongly opposed by Randolph in
the caucus, secured the nomination.
Randolph, however, voted for him
after he was nominated, and upon
one of Clay's friends thanking him
for doing SO, replied: 81 voted for
my party and its principles, not
for Mr.. Clay"
One of the few charges against
Senator Camden was that he fur
nisbed his party money in the late
canvas. COncede this; no man,
friend or foe, has yet been found that
will mako the direct charge that
any man was bought or that mon